Automatic immersion apparatus



May 9, 1939. E. c. wElsKoPF 2,157,875

AUTOMATIC IMMERsIoN APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 19:57 7 sheets-sheet' 1 MSLGttorneg lMay 9, 1939. E. c. wElsKoPF A AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS 7Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1937 Epu/N C. WE/ s KOPF Cttomeg MY 9,1939- EY c. wElsKoPF 2.157,875

AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATS Filed Nov. 2e, 1937 7 sheets-sheet s:inventor Bg @m7 (EL (Ittorneg 'May 9, 1939- E. c. wElsKoPF 2,157,375AUTOMATIC IMMERSION APPARATUS V Filed Nov. 26, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 5Bnnentor Gttorneg May 9, 1939. E. c. wEasKoPF 2,157,875

AUTOMATc IMMERSION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 26, 1937 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 /new8;

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:inventor Gttomeg Ep w/N C. WEISKOPF.

May 9, 1939. E. Q wExsKoPF l AUTOMATIC' IMMERSION APPARATUS y Filed Nov.26, 1937 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 ISS Gttomeg Patented May 9, 19.39

i UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC ION APPARATUS Edwin C. Weiakopf, New York, N.Y., assignor to Harry Cohen, New York, N. Y.

' Application November ze, 1931, serai No. 11s,'zss` 9 Claims.

The present invention relates to automatic immersion apparatus.

While useful for other purposes, the apparatus embodying the presentinvention is intended pri- 5 marily for use in laboratories and moreparticularly in connection with the treatment of tissue specimens in thepreparation thereof for diagnosis. In the use of this apparatus thetissue is immersed in various liquids or other media for predeterminedlengths of time and is automatically trnsferred from one liquid toanother at the proper times. In other words after the tissue is placedin the holder therefor and the apparatus is set -into operation, thesteps in the process of diagnosis or for other purposes are performedautomatically by the apparatus without attention and withoutintermediate handlingo! the tissue during its preparation.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an automaticimmersion apparatus of the character described which is reliable andaccurate in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic immersionapparatus with means for facilitating and improving the accuracy of thetime controlled operations of the apparatus or parts thereof in thecourse ci the procesa of preparing the tissue.

A further object oi the invention is to provide the apparatus with asimple device for automatically covering and uncovering thefluid)receptacles during the transfer ofthe tissues from one receptacle toanother in the course of the preparation of the tissue in the operationof the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is the provision in the apparatus ofmeans iorsubstantially eliminating the dripping of thel liquid whichmight otherwise occur` in transferring the tissues from one receptacleto another during the operation oi the apparatus.

It isalsc an object of the invention to provide an apparatus havingtiming control means which can be readily regulated and adjusted by theuser of the apparatus.

A yet :further object of the invention is generally to provide animproved automatic immersion apparatus, one which is mechanically wellconstructed, and which is also well adapted, and designed forconvenience in useV and reliability and accuracy in operation.

For a complete understanding of the invention, reference is to be had tothe fouawinfg auch treating the tissue -for preparing the same for- (Ul.S14- 17) tion considered with reference to the accompany=t. ingdrawings: 5

In the drawings: l

Fig. 1 isa perspective view of an automatic imiersion apparatusembodying the present inven- 5 011; in1118.2 is a transverse sectionalview of the cab- Fig. 3 is a detail sectionaLview on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2; n

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the rotary carrier forming part ofthe apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a sidev view, partly in elevation and partly in section of oneof the receptacle covers and of the holder for the specimen;

Fig. 5a is a fragmentary sectional view taken at right angles to'Fig.55, showing the holder de- Fig. 6 is a front view bf the apparatus withthe cabinet and certain mechanisms omitted for the sake of clearness andillustration;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional viewoi part of the mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detailv sectional view on the line S-l of Fig.7; i

Fig. 9isaviewonthelineO- otFigd;

Fig. 10 is a side view in elevation on the line iii-I0 of Fig. 6

Fig. 11 is a view on the line li-ii ci s;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view on the line il--i of Fig. 12;

Fis. Fig. 11, c Fig, 15 is a sectional View on the line itiit ci? Fig.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view on the line itt-6G ci Fig. 6;

Fis. 17 is a wiring dim:

Fig. 18 is a aide-view of a switch.

Referring now to the drawings in detail. the apparatus emg the presentinvention lcom prises a cabinet i8 in which the maior portion of themoving parts are housed. Said cabinet. which may be made of any suitablematerial, preferably metal, comprises a base I2 to which tour cornerposts I4 constituted preferably by metal rods are secured in upstandingrelation by screws it. Y A rear wall i8 and side walls 20, preferablycomposed of sheet metal are secured to posts i4 in any suitable way asby screws 22. Angle irons 24, also secured to said posts as shown moreclearly in Fig. 2, serve together with the adjacent portions of thecabinet walls to completely cover the 4 is a sectional view on the wie.iQ-5d ci l means of hinges 28 for swinging movement for opening andcosing the door. Said door is provided with a central glass coveropening 20 through which the timing device may be viewed, and is alsoprovided with a latch 3| of any suitable construction for releasablyholding the door in closed position.

A receptacle-table or support 32 is mounted on the top of the cabinetand is preferably secured in position, resting on the top surfaces ofposts I4 by screws 34 which engage said table and are threaded into(said posts. A plurality of shallow'pans 36 of sheet metal are fixer tothe table 32 and are disposed thereon in equi-spaced circumferentialrelation for removably receiving and positioning fluid receptacles 38 insimilar equispaced circumferential relation. As here shown', one of thepans 38 has removably mounted therein a receptacle device 40 known inthe art as a paraiiin bath which, however, requires no specificdescription as it is not per se part of the present invention.

A rotary and vertically movable conveyor or carrier 42 of metal fixed toa rotary and vertically movable shaft 44 and movable with the latter isdisposed above the receptacles 38 and has a rim 46 disposed over saidreceptacles. A cover 48 for each receptacle is carried by rim 46. Saidcover includes a rod 50 having a headed portion 52 and a stem comprisingstem portions 54 and 56 of different diameters whereby each rod 50 maybe removably assembled with rim 46. For this purpose said rim isprovided with key-hole slots 58, it being understood that rod 50 may beassembled with and removed from rim 46 by inserting the smaller rodportion 56 through the narrower portion of slot 58, which, when the head52 of the rod rests upon rim 46, prevents lateral displace- .'ment ofrod 50 with respect to said rivm. Rods 50 are slidable in the largerparts of said slots 58 so that carrier 42 may have some verticalmovement in relation to receptacles 38 and 40;

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, a perforated metal container or holder 60 isremovably secured to and carried by one of the covers 48 for movementwith said cover into and out of said receptacles. When the apparatus isused for preparing tissue for diagnosis, the specimen of tissue isplaced within said holder and is therein contained throughout theoperation of the apparatus. More specifically, holder 60 containing thetissue is successively immersed in the iiuids or .other media in thevarious receptacles. may be provided for removably securing holder B8 toone of the covers 48. As here shown, said holder is secured to cover 48.Itwill be understood that in the operation of the apparatus, which aswill be described in greater detail hereinafter, the holder 60containing the specimen tissue orother specimen is transferredsuccessively from one receptacle to the other at predetermined times inthe operation of the apparatus under the control o f timing devices andmechanisms which will be subsequently described. For accomplishing thistransfer and successive immersion of the tissue from the fluid .of onereceptacle to the iiuids of the other receptacles, said holder is raisedabove the top of the particular receptacles from which it is to betransferred and is then moved laterally over 'the next receptacles intowhich it is lowered for immersion in the fluid in the latter receptacle,and this operation is repeated until the specimen has been immersed inall such Any suitable means fluids as may be desired. In thustransferring the holder from one receptacle to another, it is desirableto prevent dripping. of the liquid from the holder onto the tableorlinto' the next receptacle. I have discovered that dripping can besubstantially prevented by utilizing a holder having tapered side walls6I and a relatively narrow bottom 63, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and thisconstitutes one of the features of the present invention. As shown inFigs. 5 and. 5a, the cover to which holder 60 is connected provided withan internal iiange having opposed bayonet slots 61 in which pins 69fixed at the upper edge of holder 60 are received. A spring 1I fixed tocover 48 engages the upper edge of the holder for releasably holding thepins in slots 61.

The means for actuating shaft 44 to move carrier 42 vertically androtatably will now be described. As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, saidshaft is mounted for longitudinal and rotary movement in a guide bearing64 having a lower circular iiange 68 secured by means of bolts 10 inspaced relation above the plate or top surface 12 of a standard 14secured toi and upstanding from the cabinet base I2. Said shaft has areduced lower end portion 16 secured to and rotatably mounted in a crosshead 18. The reduced shaft portion 16 provides a shoulder 80 whichengages one end of said cross head, and the free end of said reducedshaft portion is threaded for engagement by a nut 82 which engages theother end of said cross head to iix the shaft longitudinally in rela.-tion to said cross head While permitting rotation of the shafttherein.Cross head 18 is guided for longitudinal movement on a guide bar 84fixed to standard 14 by bolts and spacing members 86, said cross headbeing removably secured in relation to said guide bar by side straps 88fixed thereto and overlapping guide bar 84 as illustrated in Fig. 8.

Cross head 18 and shaft 44 fixed thereto are reciprocated by a link orconnecting rod 90 pivotally secured at one end 92 thereof to said crosshead and pivotally secured at its other end 94 to a crank rod 96 fixedto a rotarygear 98 in any suitable way, as by screws 99. Gear 98 meshes.

with and is rotated by a gear |08 (Fig. 9) operated by a motor |02. Saidmotor is carried by astandard I0'4 fixed to and upstanding from cabinetbase I2. Gear 98 is fixed to and rotates a shaft |06 (Fig: 6) which isjournalled in bearings |08 and I|0 on standard |04. A rotary shaft I I2is operated during the rotation of shaft |06 by gear 98 `throughbevelled gears ||4 and II6 fixed to shafts IBG-and II2, respectively.Shaft II2 is journalled for rotation adjacent its ends in a bearing] I8carried by standard |04 and in a bearing opening |20 formed in plate 12.As here shown, shaft |I2 comprises sections |22 and |24 adjustablycoupled together by a coupling sleeve |26.

It will be understood that the rotation of gear y98 is effective tomoveshaft 44 longitudinally and also, as will now be described, rotation ofshaft |I2 is effective to cause the intermittent rotation o f shaft 44.The mechanism provided for this purpose comprises a Geneva gear |28(Figs. 'I and 15) which surrounds shaft 44 and through which said shaftis longitudinally movable. Said Geneva gear rests on the surface ofstandard plate 12 and has a bearing on said surface. has a bearing in adepending Bange |32 of plate 12 for rotation therein and is held againstlongitudinal movement by a pin. t8@ which is thread- Said gear isprovided with a hub |88 which ed in flange |82 and engages hub |88 in aperipheral groove |85. Gear |28 is provided with a plate |88 fixedthereto. Said plate has a projection |48 which engages shaft 44 inl alongitudinal groove |42 provided in said shaft whereby rotation of gear|28 is effective to rotate shaft 44. Gear |28 is rotated by shaftl||2through a cooperating gear |44 of the Geneva gear movement. Baldcooperatingl gear |44 is provided with a plate |48 fixed thereto andcarrying a pin |48 arranged to enter the radial slots |50 of gear |28,whereby upon continuousrotation of cooperating gear |44 Geneva gear |28is caused to rotate intermittently for a part of a revolution thereby tosimilarly cause shaft 44 to rotate intermittently or to move for aVcorresponding part oi' a revolution. As here shown, gear |28 is providedwith twelve radial slots |50 to accomplish twelve partial rotations ofsaid shaft lfor moving carrier 42 to position the holder 68 in relationto twelve receptacles provided in the apparatushere shown, but it willbe understood that the number of slots inl said gear'may be varieddepending upon the number of different immersions or treatments to whichthe specimen is subjected or depending upon the intended use of theapparatus. It will be observed that cooperating: gear |48 is rotatablymounted on plate 12 and is secured to the upper end of shaft H2, morespecifically to the upper shaft section |28, by a pin I 52. l

From the above description it will be understood that when gear 88 isrotated for a complete revolution upon actuation of motor |02 and motorgear |88, shaft 44 is moved longitudinally upwardly for the fulllongitudinal travel thereof and longitudinally downwardly for the fulldistance of its travel, and that during the rotation of gear 88 foreffecting the reciprocation of shaft 44 upwardly and downwardly, shaft||2 makes one complete revolution. It will also be understood that theGeneva gear movement is such that during the initial upward movement ofshaft 44 pin |48 does not engage any of the slots |50, and cooperatinggear |44 is therefore ineffective to rotate Geneva gear and shaft 44.However, when shaft 44 has been moved upwardly a suilicient distance tomove holder completely out of the receptacle to clear the top of thelatter, pin |48 engages Geneva gear |28 in a slot |50 causing said gearand shaft 44 to rotate whereby to move holder 50 over the nextreceptacle. During the rotation of shaft 44 as just described the upwardmovement cf said shaft is continued to the end of its travel and atabout the time the rotary movement of said shaft is completed to centerthe holdert over the next receptacle, the shaft is moved downwardlytopositionthe holder within said next receptacle. 'I'hus it will be seenthat the gearing arrangement is such that shaft 4l is actuated to raiseholder 50 out of its receptacle, then to move said holder to positionand center the same over the next receptacle by a partial rotation ofsaid shaft and then to move said hoider downwardly into the nextreceptacle whereupon the movement of the shaft is interrupted for thetime being until the next operation thereof for moving the holder out ofthe la'st mentioned receptacle and into the next receptacle.

In accordance with the.l present invention, provision is made forbalancing the upward and downward movement of the shaft 44 whereby toobtain a more uniform longitudinal movement of said shaft in said up anddown directions. For

this purpose, there is provided a counter-weight |54 (Figs. 7 and 16)guided for up and down movement on a rod |56 xed in standard 14. Saidcounter-weight |54 is connected to one end of a chain or belt |58 whichpasses over a rotary pulley |60 and is connected at its other end tocross head 18. on a. shaft or rod |62 secured at its ends in the Pulley|60 is mounted for rotation l sides |64 of standard 14. The arrangementof the parts is such that said counter-weight is raised to the limit ofits upward movement when shaft 44 is at the limit of its downwardmovement. A set screw |65 is provided for securing weight |54 againstmovement during shipment of the apparatus.

'I'he above described successive movements of the shaft occurs under thecontrol of timing devices Vand mechanisms which will now be described.Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 11 and 13, there is provided arotary selector disk |10 removably mounted on a rotary metal plate l|12xed to and rotatable with a spindle or shaft `|14 actuated by a clockwork |16 secured to the front of standard 14 by a bracket |18. The

gear arrangement of clock |16 is such that shaft the disk for receivingthe free upwardly directed end portion |84 of a pivoted arm |86 securedat its opposite end to a pin |88 journalled in a bearing |90 at theupper end ci a standard |92. Pin |88 projects rearwardly through bearing|80 and has fixed thereto a bracket |94 provided with a spring clipholder |95 having spaced sides |88 in which a mercury switch 200 isremovably secured. A tension spring 202 is connected at one end 204thereof to bracket |94 and at its other end 206 to an eye-bolt 208 fixedto standard |82. The arrangement is such that spring 202 .tends to movearm |86 in a counter clockwise direction, viewing F'ig. 13, whereby thefree edge |85 of arm portion |84 is held in resilient engagement withthe outer peripheral edge 2|0 of disk |10 and to cause said end portion|84 to enter the groove |82 when the latter registers with said armportion at predetermined times during the rotation of said disk which asindicated by the arrow 2|2 in Fig. ,13 takes piace ina clockwisedirection. It will be understood that asdisk |18 continues to rotate, itbeing rotated continuously by clock |16, arm portion |84 eventually isforced out of groove |82 into which it has been projected by spring v202and it will be observed that this movement is facilitated by thecurvededge 2|4 of groove |82. As illustrated in Fig.' 11, the actuatingspring of clock |16 may be wound by rotating knob 213 at the back ofcabinet wall I8, said knob being iixed to a rod 2| 5 which-extends toand is connected to the winding stem of the clockl As is apparent fromthe wiring diagram illustrated in Fig. 17, mercury switch 200 isoperatively associated in an electric circuit with another mercuryswitch 2|6 'for controlling together with thelatter the energization ofmotor |02. Switch 2|8 is removably secured in a spring clip 218 (Fig.ill) carried by a lever 220 mounted betvlreen` its ends on a pivot pin222 fastened to a bracket 224 projecting from and fixed to standard |84.The end portion 223 of lever 2281s arcuately curved and is disposedbelow a collar 2 28 fixed to the outer end of shaft |83 and rotatabletherewith. Collar 228 is provided with a pin projection 238 arranged toreleasably engage end 223 of lever 222 for tilting mercury switch 2|3.Each mercury switch comprises, as illustrated in Fig. 18, threeelectrodes 232, 234 and 233. Electrode 233 is housed within aninsulation tube 238 whereby said electrode is insulated from central.electrode 234, but is provided with a bare reexed end portion 248adapted to be contacted by the mercury or other conducting fluid whenthe switch is tilted downwardly or in a counter clockwise direction,viewing Figs. 17 and 18 for electrical connection with electrode 232. Onthe other hand when the switch is moved upwardly, or in a, clockwisedirection, the mercury moves away from the adjacent ends cf electrodes236 and 232, thereby yto break the electrical connection therebetween,and makes an electrical connection between electrodes 232 and 234,electrode 234 being relatively short so that when the switch is tilteddownwardly the circuit is broken between said electrodes. A spring 2 I8biases switch 2|3 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. 17, in the circuit for controlling the operating motor|82, one wire 242 from the power source is connected to one side 0f themotor, and the other side of the motor is connected by a wire 244 and bybranch wires 245 and 241 to the electrode 234 of switch 288 and to theelectrode 233 of switch 2|6 respectively. The

other side of the power source is connected by a wire 243 and branchwires 249 and 25| to electrode 233 of switch 288 and to electrode 234 ofswitch 2|3. A wire 248 connects the electrodes 232 of switches 288 and2| 3 to each other. The circuit also includes a signal lamp 258connected across the power source in advance of the motor |82 by a wire252 and a manually operable switch.

234 is connected in the circuit for controlling the motor circuitindependently of switches 288 and 233. l

From an examination of the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 17 it will beobserved that when switch 288 is in its upwarly tilted positions shownin full lines with the electrical conection between electrodes 232 and233 interrupted and with an electrical connection made betweenelectrodes 232 and 234, and with switch 2|3 in the downwardly inclinedposition shown in full lines in Fig. 17, the circuit between electrodes232 and 234 is interrupted and the circuit through motor tation oftiming disk |18 and the alignment of any |32 is interrupted, switch 254Vbeing normally open. By reference to Fig. 13, it will be observed thatswitch 288 is in the circuit interrupting position Just described whenarm-portlon |84 is held out of a groove |82 by engagement of said armportion with the peripheral edge of timing disk |13. When, however, upona predetermined rotation of said disk to bring one of said grooves intoalignment with said arm portion .|34 to permit arm |83 to move counterclockwise whereby to allow spring 282 to downwardly tilt switch 288, anelectrical connection is made between electrodes 232 and 233 of switch288. When this occurs, current-flows from one side of the power sourcethrough wire 243 and wire 243.to electrode 233 and through the vmercuryto electrode 232 of switch 233 and from the latter by wire 248 toelectrode 232 of switch 2 3, the latter being still downwardly inclined,from electrode 232 throughI the mercury to electrode 233 and fromthelatter by means of wires 241 and 244 to the motor and thence by wire 242to the other side of the power source.

The motor is thus energized and actuates shaft 44 as described above forraising and lowering said shaft and also for rotating said shaft throughthe operation of shafts |83 and |22 and the Geneva gear movementpreviously described. Shaft |83 makes one complete revolution with theresult that pin 238 carried by collar 228 moves from the full lineposition shown in Fig. 10 to the dotted line position there shown. Lever228 is moved in a counter clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 10, causingswitch 2|3 to tilt to interrupt the circuit between electrodes 232 and233 thereof with the resultl that the circuit through the motor isinterrupted and the operation of the apparatus is interrupted and theparts come to rest. In the meantime timing disk |18 continues to rotateby the actuation of clock |13 and arm portion |84 is forced out ofgroove |82 into engagement 'with the peripheral edge of said disk. Thiscauses switch 288 to tilt so that the electrical connection betweenelectrodes 232 and 233 of said switch is broken and the electricalconnection between electrodes 232 and 234 is made. At this time theelectric circuit, through motor |82, is completed momentarily and switch2|3 is invposition so that current may flow from wire ,242 to the motorand thence by way of wires 244|and 245 to switch 288, at electrode 234,and from said switch by way of electrodes 232 and 234 thereof to switch2|3 by way of electrodes 232 and 234 thereof and from the last mentionedswitch by way of wires 25| and 243 to the other side of the powersource. This electrical connection exists only until shaft |83 isrotated sufficiently to disengage pin 238 from the adjacent end ofswitch lever 228 and when that occurs, said ,lever pivots in a counterclockwise direction causing switch 2| 3 to tilt -so as to interrupt thecircuit between electrodes 232 and 234 of said switch. However, asswitch 288 remains in its position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 17,the circuit remains interrupted until the rotation of disk |18 brings agroove |82 into alignment with switch arm portion |84 to permit thecycle of operations described above to be repeated for again energizingmotor |82 whereby to operate shaft 44 for transferring the tissuespecimen from one receptacle to the next receptacle.

Provision is made for interrupting the circuit at the end of the processof treating the tissue or other specimen by the present apparatus andfor releasably preventing automatic reestablishment of the circuit,notwithstanding the continued roof the grooves with arm portion |84. Forthis purpose, annular member 288 provided with a radially projecting camportion 232 is secured to disk |12 over timing disk |18 in fixedrelation to the latter, and rotates therewith. Thus, at a predeterminedtime, as for example at the end of twenty-four hours or sooner,depending upon the time necessary for completing the process of treatingthe tissue or other specimen, cam 232 engages arm portion |34 causingthe latter to move in a clockwise direction, viewing Fig. 13. When thisoccurs, a latch 234 provided on a pivo'ted arm 233 engages a pin 218 onarm |83 toreleasably retain said arm against movement in a counterclockwise direction, with the result that the alignment of any ofthegrooves |82 with arm portion |84 has no effect, for the time being,

upon said arm and is therefore ineifective to initiate the movement oi'switch 200 for establishtrolling the time oi nal intcrruption of thecircuit, said cam is adjustable circumferentially of the peripheralportion 216 of member 260. For this purpose cam 262 engages peripheralportion 216 and is adjustably secured in position by a set screw 214.

It will be observed from an inspection of Figs. l1 and 12 that member260 serves tofasten or clamp the cam disk |10 in position on4 carrierdisk |12. For this purpose the hub portion 280 of member 260 is arrangedto be clamped against the inner central portion of cam disk |10 by meanso1' a nut 282. As clearly shown in Fig. 12,

said nut has a screw threaded engagement with a Screw threaded portion284 of clock spindle |14 and has a peripheral groove 286 in which aninner peripheral portion 288 of'hub 280 is relatively rotatable so thatwhile nut 282 is permanently connected to hub 280 of mebber 260 relativerotation can occur between said hub and nut 262 for the purpose justdescribed. Upon removal oi' nut 282 from spindle |14 by unscrewing thenut, member 260 is also removed to permit removal and replacement ofselector diskA |10 by another such disk having appropriately spacedgrooves, such as the grooves |82, for obtaining the desired operation oithe apparatus. In practice, a number of non-grooved disks are suppliedtothe users o1` the apparatus and the latter cut grooves |82 in thedisks to suit their requirements.

While I have shown and described the pre- Ierred embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood that \the latter may be embodiedotherwise than as here shown and it will be iurther understood that inthe apparatus herein shown and described certain changes in theconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made and will occur tothose skilled in the art. Therefore, I do not wish to be limitedprecisely to the construction herein shown or described,

except within the scope of the appended claims.

HavingA thus described my invention, what lI claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft, a holdermounted for movement by said shaft into and out of said receptacles insuccession, means for intermittently moving said shaft longitudinallyand rotatably in timed relation, and an electric motor for actuatingsaid means, meansincluding a rotary timing disk and switch mechanismsoperable under the control of said disk for controlling the energizationof said motor whereby to actuate said means at predetermined timeintervals, said timing disk having circumferentially spaced notches inits peripheral edge portion, one of said switch mechanisms including amovable arm having a part'engageable with said disk at its peripheraledge and in said notches, said arm being biased for movement to engagesaid part thereof with said disk, and means rotatable with said disk formoving said part of the arm to retracted position out of engagement withsaid disk.

2. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft, a holdermountedv for movement by said shaft into and out of said receptacles insuccessiommeans for intermittently moving said shaft longitudinally androtatably in` timed relation, and an electric motor for actuating saidmeans, means including a rotary timing disk and switch mechanismsoperable A under the control of said disk for controlling theenergization of said motor whereby to actuate said means atpredetermined time intervals, said timing disk having circumferentiallyspaced notches in its peripheral edge portion, and one of said switchmechanisms including a movable arm having a part engageable with saiddisk at its peripheral edge and in said notches, said arm being biasedfor movement to engage said part thereof vwith said disk. meansrotatable with said disk for moving said part of the arm to retractedposition out of engagement with said disk, and latch means' forreleasably holding said arm in said retracted position.

3. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft, a holdermounted for movement by said shaft into and out of said receptacles insuccession, means for intermittently moving Said shaft longitudinallyand rotatably in timed relation, and an electric motor for actuatingsaid means, means including a rotary timing disk and switch mechanismscomprising a plurality of mercury switches mounted yfor tilting movementand movable under the control of said disk for controlling theenergization of said motor whereby to actuate said means atpredetermined time intervals, said timing disk having circumferentiallyspaced notches in its -eripheral edge portion, and one of said switch`mechanisms including a movable arm carrying one of said mercuryswitches for tilting the same and a part engageable with said disk atits periphery and in said notches, said arm being biased for movement toengage said part thereof with said disk, and means rotatable with saiddisk for moving said part of the arm to' retracted position out ofengagement with said disk.

4. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft, a holdermounted for movement by said shaft into and out of said receptacles insuccession, means for intermittently moving said shaft longitudinallyand rotatably in timed relation, and an electric motor for actuatingsaid means, means including a rotary timing disk and switch mechanismscomprisingv a plurality ofmercury switchesmounted for tilting movementand movable under the control of said disk for controlling theenergization ci said motor whereby to actuatessaid means atpredetermined time intervals. said timing disk having circumferentiallyspaced notches in its peripheral edge portion, and one or said switchmechanisms including a movable arm for tilting one of said'switches anda part engageable with said disk at its periphery and in said notches,said arm being biased for movement to engage said part thereof with saiddisk, means rotatable with said disk formoving said part of the arm toretracted position out of engagement with said disk, and latch means forreleasably holding said arm in said retracted position.

l5. In apparatus of the class described compris-1 ing a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinauy mova'm shaft. a holdermounted for movement by said shaft into and out of said remined timeintervals, said timing disk having circumferentially spaced notches inits peripheral edgeyportion, and one oi said switch mechanisms includinga movable arm carrying one of said switches `for tilting the same, apart engageable with said disk at its periphery and in said notches, amember operable by a part of said shaft actuating means for tiltinganother of said switches. said arm being biased'for movement to engagesaid part thereof with said disk, and

means rotatable with said disk for moving saidl partl of the arm toretracted position out of engagement with said disk.

6. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft, a holdermounted for movement by said shaft into and out of said receptacles insuccession, means for intermittently moving said shaft longitudinallyand rotatably in o timed relation, and an electric motor for actuatingsaid means, means' including a rotary timing disk and switch mechanismscomprising a plurality of mercury switches mounted for tilting movementand movable under the control of said disk for controlling theenergization of said motor whereby to actuate said means atpredetermined time intervals, said timing disk having circumferentiallyspaced notches in its peripheral edge portion, and one of said switchmechanisms including a movable arm for tilting one of said switches, apart engageable with said disk at its periphery and in said notches, anda. member operable by a part of said shaft actuating means for tiltinganother of said switches, said arm being biased for movement to engagesaid part thereof with said disk, means rotatable with said disk formoving said part of the arm to retracted position out of engagement withsaid.dlsk, and latch means forreleasably holding said arm in saidretracted position.

7. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft, a holdermounted for movement-by said shaft into and out of said receptacles insuccession, means for intermittently moving said shaft longitudinallyand rotatably in timed relation, and an electric motor for actuatingsaid means, means including. a rotary timing disk and switch mechanismsoperable under the control of said disk for controlling the energizationof said motor whereby to actuate said means at predetermined timeintervals,

said timing disk having circumferentially spaced notches in itsperipheral edge portion, one of said switch mechanisms including amovable arm.- hav- 8. In apparatus of the class described comprising aplurality of receptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft,a holder mounted for movement by said shaft into and out of saidreceptacles in succession, means for intermittently moving said shaftlongitudinally and rotatably in timed relation, and an electric motorfor actuating said means, means including a rotary timing disk forcontrolling the energization of said motor whereby to actuate said meansat predetermined time intervals, said timing disk havingcircumferentially spaced notches in its peripheral edge portion, one ofsaid switchmechanisms including a movable arm having a partv engageablewith said disk at its peripheral edge and in said notches, said armbeing biased for movement to engage said part thereof with -said disk,and meansl rotatable with said disk for moving said part of the arm toretracted position out of engagement with said disk,` saidarm-retracting means comprising a cam member secured to said disk andprojecting outwardly beyond the periphery ofthe latter for engagementwith said part of the arm. i i

9. In apparatus of the class described comprising a plurality ofreceptacles, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft, a holdermounted for movement by said shaft into and out of said receptacles insuccession, means for intermittently moving said shaft longitudinallyand rotatably in timed relation, and an electric motor for actuatingsald means, means including a rotary timy ing disk and switch mechanismsoperable under the control ofsaid disk for controlling the energizationof said motor whereby to actuate said means at predetermined timeintervals, said timing disk having circumferentially spaced radiallyextending notches in its peripheral edge portion. one of said switchmechanisms including a movable arm mounted for turning movement andmotorand means carried by said disk and rotatable therewith for movingsaid first mentioned part of said arm to retracted position out of en-4mement with said' disk.

`EDWIN C. W'EISKOPF.

